§ 36. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in the opinion of the Board, contagious abortion in cattle is on the increase throughout the country generally, or in what county or counties in particular; whether inoculation with either live or dead bacilli is being advantageously carried out for the purpose either of immunisation or of cure; and whether its extensive use can now be confidently recommended by the veterinary advisers of the Board?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Runciman)Stock-owners are naturally somewhat reluctant to admit that the disease in question exists in their herds, and I am not prepared to 1795 say whether or not it is on the increase, but there is no doubt that it is prevalent. From the nature of the case the experiments conducted by the Board must extend over some years before a confident opinion can be formed as to the value of preventive inoculation, but up to the present the results are encouraging.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTDo I understand that the Board favour the inoculation process pending a final decision on the matter?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThey are conducting experiments extensively.